Frame straightener tool



P 1949. R. D. SMITH FRAME .STRAIGHTENER TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1945 YINVENTOR. ROY D. M|TH Sept 20, 1949.

Filed Dec. 4, 1945 I8 FIE-7 FIE-1U R. D. SMITH FRAME STRAIGHTENER TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIE-15 INVENTOR.

Rev D. M|TH Patented Sept. 20, 1949 FZRAM-E STRAIGHTENER TUOL "ner'ship i Applieation'Deceniber 1'0"Cl'aim's.

.z. ";My4pr esent inVenti0n -'11e1ates :to a-t o01; for us e :with maehines used in the straightening of motor vehiele f.-reme.sm n th o ect 2561 i ven onj re t p ev t, .esvne rly e pessi e, a universaltoel edaptedfer use with lltypes of :aut m-obileframes; to provide steel which can doe-:usegi wi h l-ahyzjo e -o,f:-. eve1ea1;k-i1;1ds of fram straighteners; ta provide. a tool whieh can be easily clamped to 01;; un clamped {from e freme -element of a, mote vehiele; and such further ob c s a an a e ,v a liti W111 hereaiterienp ari-a "a ar nh re ie-fih r 9 struetion disclosed herein "My invention further resides in :the ,comleinatien, eo sti -uetipn, and amnsemen qq r s i r d t ntin a mrpan iias rz nes n iw il ,1 h w llQWn h r e-whe snd w r r e s themi n d em diment o his: ini ni mlr e$ he se to be understood asilhgst 'ative only"and not to be ber x te ne m ie sens 1 7 gl-p the draWi-n-gsannexed hereto and forming Figs. 3,-anc1 5 -'s hqw the use of my tool in cpnneetiqr with motel web-isle if-rames ofathe thr fifw im i types 1 5 mmmaking sidewi se bends in afrajme element er a eem'plete fi; t; ,r' -i s,12, and 6 are gomperable-to Figs. 1, 3, end respectively, ';in my liiejw toglf is illustrated esheing sed for the making bf varfie-a1 bends in frame members;

5a is ,a fragmentary yertipalrseetiexig taken su stantiall ralongl'the brok'eri pianeindieated V 7 :tobli in Workingupon one type of a meter vehicle;

frame member; s h v I I JUshOWs this'jtool appli'eiito hn their type hfmot'cii' vehicle frame for fthefco q 0f diamdhd frame or for s'tretehinga; frame niemb eh; Fig- 1-1 is a, side elevation of the structiire showniii'Fig. 10; A v .1, s L Fig. 12 is a siie blvatiii Of the adapter used in tIieISet-HQ sfib'wii'ih Figs. 10 and il t B YLE-D2 z fi rtz tees-mi 1& ,-Line Company, Scott County lowa, abopalrt- Y 2 7 Fig. 14 ;is 3a--sic1 elevation of the structure J' hQWlR YFi -Z "send s v Fi .2 1 .5 ere va en o heif abt r us v h -21, -fra.me 'of the type shown "in Figs. 5, 6, 5 l-eedl$ I Ref-eigence will new be r1a;de in greater; detail ew n xee :ds w s. fo a-a more. c e e this invention, I-r'1 --these grawings, mew -11i lustra e:them of asripiion'br F s- 1- 19 6, ,1. 10 :2, pa, .tus er W 9 i y e en mn' tm a ter is .1q A standard or post i is pr'ovicied whiph issupp92 te9 t ezusual man er by n o the transpearing in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, show the direction of pull in the operation illustrated.

In Figs. 1, 3, and 5, the tapered pin I2 is shown as passing through an opening l8, indicated in Figs. 2, 4, and 6. The legs 4 are shown as being provided with a half opening I9, which is onehalf the size of an opening l8. Therefore, when two legs 4 are placed together, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 6, there is provided a complete aperture for the reception of a pin l2, as shown in these figures. When the back of a leg 4 is pressed against the end of the longitudinal slot in the crossbar 2, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, and the other head or jaw 5 is compressed in the same direction by the pin 8, a complete opening is formed for the reception of a pin l2, and this can be driven into the opening to draw the heads down into tight engagement with the upper surface of the crossbar 2. Therefore, the pins 3 and I2 will hold the parts definitely assembled and prevent their inadvertent separation.

In Fig. 2 there is shown a head of a different form from that illustrated at 5. This is needed to get into the channel of the frame member 9 and avoid pressing against the flange 2| thereof, in making lateral bends. This head or jaw 20 has the same type of legs as the head 5 and these function in the same way.

It is clear that the adapter I3, in the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, bears against the web of The adapters l4 and i5, shown in Figs. 12 and 15, are each provided with a lug 23 which engages in a cooperating opening 24 in the head 5. In Figs. 11 and 14 there are shown two of these openings 24, the use of which is dependent upon the size and shape of the motor vehicle frame member and whether adapter H! or I5 is used.

In the set-ups shown on Sheet 2, use is made of a pulling block 25 provided with a rigidly connected rod 26 having a threaded end for connection to a pulling instrumentality, not shown. r

This unit 25 has a pair of slots 21 which are formed slightly diagonally with relation to the length of this unit. Bolts 28 are passed through these openings 21 and the legs 4 and serve to draw the heads, with their adapters, into tight engagement with the sides of the frame member, whether that be of the type shown at 9, H], or H. These bolts 28 hold the heads against separation and hold the legs 4 in close engagement to complete the opening formed by the two half-openings 19.

As indicated heretofore, the upper inclined faces of the slots 21 draw the heads and adapters downwardly to produce holding engagement with the frame members.

It will of course be understood that the specific description of structure set forth above may be departed from without departing from the spirit of this invention as set forth herein and in the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A tool for use with a frame straightening machine in the straightening of motor vehicle frames, comprising a standard for attachment to the fram machine, a crossbar secured to said standard, a frame-engaging head having downwardly extending legs straddling said crossbar with its legs extending below the top thereof, another leg provided with an opening for the reception of a securing pin, said other leg extending through a longitudinal slot in said crossbar, and a tapered securing pin passing through said opening and drawing the head downwardly into tight engagement with the crossbar whereby to hold the head in laterally adjusted position.

2. A tool for use with a frame straightening machine in the straightening of motor vehicle frames, comprising a standard for attachment to the frame machine, a crossbar secured to said standard, a frame-engaging head having downwardly extending legs straddling said crossbar with its legs extending below the top thereof, another leg provided with an opening for the reception of a securing pin, said other leg extending through a longitudinal slot in said crossbar, and a tapered securing pin passing through said opening and drawing the head downwardly into tight engagement with the crossbar whereby to hold the head in laterally adjusted position, the crossbar having, at its free end, an upstanding abutment for engagement by a tapered tightening pin,

in combination with a tapered pin between the abutment and the head for adjusting the position of the head and tightening it against a workpiece.

3. A tool for use with a frame straightening machine in the straightening of motor vehicle frames, comprising an upstanding post for attachment to and support by a frame straightening machine, a crossbar attached to said post and extending substantially horizontally therefrom, said crossbar having a slot extending longitudinally thereof, a pair of heads resting on and each having a leg extending through said crossbar, said heads being adapted to receive between them a side frame member of a motor vehicle, and means for securing said heads to said crossbar.

4. A tool for use with a frame straightening machine in the straightening of motor vehicle frames, comprising an upstanding post for attachment to and support by a frame straightening machine, a crossbar attached to said post and extending substantially horizontally therefrom, the crossbar having a slot extending longitudinally thereof, a pair of heads resting on and each having a leg extending through said crossbar, said heads being adapted to receive between them a side frame member of a motor vehicle, and means for securing said heads to said crossbar, the said means including means for pulling the heads downwardly against the crossbar.

5. A tool for use with a frame straightenin machine in the straightening of motor vehicle frames, comprising an upstanding post for attachment to and support by a frame straightening machine, a crossbar attached to said post and extending substantially horizontally therefrom, the crossbar having a slot extending longitudinally thereof, a pair of heads resting on and each having a leg extending through said crossbar, said heads bein adapted to receive between them a side frame member of a motor vehicle, and means for securing said heads to said crossbar, said means including means for clamping the heads laterally against a motor vehicle side frame memher.

6. A tool for use with a frame straightening machine in the straightening of motor vehicle frames, comprising an upstanding post for attachment to and support by a frame straightening machine, a crossbar attached to said post and extending substantially horizontally therefrom,

a slot in the crossbar extending longitudinally thereof, a pair of headsresting on and each having a, le extending through said crossbar, said heads being adapted to receive between them a side frame member of a motor vehicle, and means for securing said heads to said crossbar, said means including a tapered member for compressing the heads laterally against a motor vehicle frame member and a tapered member for pulling the heads downwardly into tight engagement with the crossbar.

7. A motor vehicle frame-engaging and holding tool comprising a pair of jaws for lateral engagement with a frame member, attachment pieces for attachment to the jaws to adapt them for use with frame members of different shapes, and clamping means for clamping the jaws to a frame member, the clamping means comprising a tapered pin for causing motion of the jaws transversely of the frame member.

8. In a frame straightening apparatus having an upright standard, a frame-gripping tool comprising a horizontal arm projecting laterally from the standard and provided with a longitudinal slot, a jaw for engagement with a motor vehicle frame, said jaw having downwardly extending legs, one bein located in said slot and the others on opposite sides of the arm, and means for clamping the jaw to the arm.

9. In a frame straightening apparatus having a post for attachment to the frame of the straightening apparatus, a frame-gripping tool comprising a horizontal arm projecting laterally from the standard and provided with a longitudinal slot, a jaw for engagement with a motor vehicle frame, said jaw having downwardly extending legs, one

being located in said slot and the others on opposite sides of the arm, and means for clamping the jaw to the arm, the jaw being provided with an interchangeable frame-engaging attachment whereby to adapt the jaw to fit frames of'different shapes.

10. A motor vehicle frame engaging andholding tool, comprising, in combination, heads to engage a frame member laterally and to be drawn into tight engagement therewith, a longitudinally slotted support for supporting said heads, said heads having downwardly extending legs extending through the slotted support and below the frame membezg'and means between the legs and acting upon them simultaneously for drawing them downwardly.

ROY D. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 755,384 Palmer Mar. 22, 1904 1,305,321 Tooker June 3, 1919 1,404,275 Cowles Jan. 24, 1922 1,751,329 Hancock Mar. 18, 1930 1,879,979 Countryman Sept. 2'7, 1932 1,944,862 Fransen Jan. 23, 1934 2,013,785 Merrill Sept. 10, 1935 2,042,856 Merrill June 2, 1936 2,174,947 Ramsey Apr. 14, 1938 2,361,971 Shipman Mar. 4, 1942 2,384,148 Yeager W Sept. 4, 1945 

